CyprusVista

Cyprus Transport Minister Nico Nicolaides is not amused. Just weeks after visiting the new building works at both Larnaca and Paphos airports, the Minister has issued a warning to the two ground handling firms at the airports to “put their houses in order” - or risk being closed down.

Cyprus airport ground handling services are provided by Swissport and LGS (Louis, Gold Air and Service Air) Handling. However, the companies have made a series of embarrassing and image-damaging mistakes, such as bus loads of passengers being taken to the wrong plane and passengers waiting up to 90 minutes for their luggage. As a result, the government has not ruled out revoking the companies’ licenses if the situation does not improve rapidly.

Hermes, the owners of both airports and responsible for the improvements, are said to be unhappy with the two companies, although Hermes are not themselves responsible for the operations of the handling firms.

However, the two ground handling companies may be thrown a lifeline from cheap flights to Cyprus, such as those offered by easyjet. Since the airline, amongst others, now charge for every item of hold baggage, more and more passengers are flying with just hand luggage. This, of course, reduces the number of bags carried in the hold. With less bags to unload and load, the job of ground handling will be quicker and easier. Won’t it?

If you are coming this summer to Cyprus on holiday this summer, do bear in mind that temperatures have already reached 40 degrees in the past fortnight, and a further mini heat wave has been forecast. You can easily fit your swimsuit, shorts, shirts, sun dresses, flip flops, chic lit novel, sun hat, high factor sunblock, etc, in a hand luggage-sized bag of 55×40x20cm. In relaxed and laid back Cyprus, you probably won’t need a lot else…

Checking in at Larnaca Airport, Cyprus. Photo by sunshineandbeyond at flickr.com

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